Mr Panneerselvam on Wednesday wrote to the banks not to allow anyone else to operate AIADMK's accounts as he continued to be the treasurer of the party.

She is reported to have sent a note to Governor, requesting him for a quick decision, " in the interest of Tamil nadu".

If it was just a matter of numbers, Sasikala has the upper hand as AIADMK claims that 127 MLAs, including 27 ministers, who have been corralled in a luxury resort in an attempt to prevent their being influenced by Panneerselvam's faction, are firmly supporting Sasikala.

At the time of going to print, the AIADMK leader was headed to the Golden Bay Resorts, some 130 kilometres from Chennai, where all the party MLAs are now held.

Sasikala will meet the Governor at 7 p.m. today. As general secretary of AIADMK she exuded confidence that the party under her will definitely rule the state in the remaining four odd years of its tenure.

In the absence of any definite will, Jaya's Poes Garden residence and jewellery would be inherited by the late CM's nephews and nieces, one of whom, Deepa, has also challenged Sasikala's claim to be the sole custodian of the political legacy of Jayalalithaa. "They were saying they will not accept Sasikala as the Chief Minister at any point". Former union minister E Ponnusamy on Friday extended his support to Panneerselvam. 10 MPs had already joined the OPS camp.

The senior BJP leader made the statement when asked about the political uncertainty in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Stalin urged the Governor's intervention to ensure that a "democratically and Constitutionally valid" government was in place in the state through a "free-and-fair floor test" in the Assembly. If convicted, Sasikala will not be able to hold public office or stand for elections for six months. Two other resorts in the area are believed to be hiding more groups of lawmakers. She was pilloried on social media for suggesting that violence could break out.

Kumar has sought a stay contending that if she was convicted and forced to resign, there could be a "possibility of riots" erupting all over the state.

On Sunday evening, the private guards who have sealed off the resort and also closed down the road leading to it, abused and manhandled the journalists. A former AIADMK leader and an old friend of Sasikala's husband M Natarajan, Thirunavukkarasu is said to be keen that his MLAs back Sasikala. On Saturday, the private guards pelted stones at media persons and the policemen deployed remained mute spectators.